Front differential breather hose

[dant.dinguss]

2001 4.0L

I'm diagnosing a leaking pinion seal on my front differential. It's been slinging gear oil all over the underside of the truck. I followed the breather hose from the diff to here. It *did* have the plastic cap but that shattered in my fingers.

My question is, considering the cap was still in tact and the hose is still securely attached to the elbow, is there any real chance of this vent being clogged? I don't want to optimistically pull the hose off and try poking the elbow out if the pinion seal itself is the actual issue. What's the lifespan on these seals usually like?

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So…

Since the vent was complete until it disintegrated, I’m going to say probably little chance the vent was plugged. Even if it is plugged, if you’re getting oil slinging out from the pinion area, then the pinion seal is probably shot. I’d check the axle seals too, they often go as well. It’s a little annoying to change the seals, but not all that technically difficult. Basic mechanics tool set, a couple larger sockets (axle nuts and pinion nut) and a torque wrench is about all you really need. It should be pretty obvious where the oil is coming from. If it wasn’t a current wind chill of like -10, I might consider trying to make a little video, lol.

I‘m also going to go ahead and move this to the proper forum section and welcome to TRS.

 

[Curious Hound]

I agree with @lil_Blue_Ford . The breather hose is easy to replace also. Just get some 1/4” fuel hose and route it like the original. Install a new breather cap to keep dirt out but still let pressure equalize.

 

[dant.dinguss]

Thanks for the replies. I got a quote on replacing the pinion seal and it's not nearly as bad as I expected. The labor on that is a little beyond my level of confidence.

Do these seals tend to just blow out on their own over time? I'm at 107k miles and I'm sure it's the original seal. I know the previous owner did a lot of 4x4 off roading, but I don't. It is a live axle though so everything is always in motion even in 2wd.

As for checking the vent - theoretically, I could remove the fill plug on the diff, blow through the hose, and air should be able to come out the fill plug, right? And vice versa?

 

[pjtoledo]

you could indeed blow into the hose, and thus blow any dirt in it into the differential.
a section pump or whatever might be a better way to go.
the elbow is pressed into the housing, once removed they don't go back in easily.

vents/filters are available from numerous sources.
differential vent - JEGS High Performance

 

[dant.dinguss]

you could indeed blow into the hose, and thus blow any dirt in it into the differential.
a section pump or whatever might be a better way to go.
the elbow is pressed into the housing, once removed they don't go back in easily.

vents/filters are available from numerous sources.
differential vent - JEGS High Performance

Good point. I've got a fluid transfer pump that I bet would work. I'll connect the "in" side to the elbow and give it a shot